Linda and her family had a magical time at Disney World, me not so much. By the time we reached there I was three days into a wicked repertory infection that had driven me to my knees. I did manage to go a couple of times and took a few pictures.

I am very impressed with the packaging. These wrist bands that allow access to the park and the fast pass lanes on some of the rides. No longer do you have to wait hours in line for the popular rides.

The gardens at Epcot were a feast for you eyes.

Lunch while watching the fish at the Reef Restaurant.

Finding your inner totem at the Canadian exhibit.

The topiary is stunning

This acrobat never dismounted the chair tower while his assistant kept giving him more chairs.

4.16.2015

Linda's persistent, two weeks, cough propelled us to the emergency room yesterday. A blood clot was discovered in her lung. This was a real time bomb, untreated it might have been lethal. She is on blood thinners and will be released in a couple of days when her blood has reached the proper viscosity.

4.09.2015

In 1924 Mabel and John Ringling, one of Americas' richest men, built an Italian style palace, Ca' d'Zan that is perched on the edge of Sarasota Bay. Mabel died in 1929 and John was hit hard by the her passing. Next John was pummeled by the depression and died in 1936 with only $311 in the bank. Ca' d'Zan and his extensive art collection survived because he willed them to Florida.

The gang in front of the estates gate house

The circus museum

This 1940's cannon could hurl two performers 140 feet at 125 mph. The operating mechanism has been removed from the cannon - it remains a guarded family secret.

Restored 1915 circus wagons

Arlene got legs

Linda checking out the large midway posters. They fold in half.

John Ringling's personal train car.

One man's marvelous tribute to the circus

Howard Timbals saw his first circus at age three and in his mid twenty's, 1960, he began crafting an historically correct 1930-1940's miniature circus. He is still at it today, creating more miniatures for his circus. My meager photos do not begin to communicate the enormous size and intricacy of his life's work. Youtube video

In the dining tent, called The Hotel, 3,900 meats were served daily. Each person with the circus had a designated seat at a table set with china plates, silverware, a water pitcher, condiments, and bread and butter. Waiters took your order and served the meals.

Changing tent.

The Midway

The Menagerie

The Main Tent

Every night the circus packed up and the circus train thundered through the night to the next town. The logistics required boggles the mind.

An Italian Palace.

Mabel and John Ringling traveled Europe seeking new circus acts and buying art. They loved Italian Palaces of Venice and built their own in Sarasota, FL. 3,600 square feet of Italian splender at a cost of 1.5 million.

Welcome

I am retired from an eclectic career, construction worker, science teacher and corporate photographer living full time in my 2002 Trek named Serenity. She is named after the space ship in the Firefly TV series.
I am boondocking my way down the back roads of North America enjoying the good life and sampling the local cuisine. My wanderlust comes from my mother’s love of travel and moving often when I was younger. My Dad built dams and we moved every few years. I have lived in CA, WA, OR, WV, & AZ. Construction is in my blood and today I enjoy participating in Habitat for Humanity builds. I also like to travel, fishing, hiking, geocaching, kayaking, cooking, museums and movies. I read Mysteries/adventure books and listen to smooth jazz & 60’s rock and roll